Did the previous Astonishing X-Men book end? I was getting it, despite the fact that since Whedon left I think it has sucked. Since it was almost over, I was going to ride it out. I don't remember the last issue coming out. If it did I must have bought it, but haven't read it yet I guess.

Batman25JM wrote:Did the previous Astonishing X-Men book end? I was getting it, despite the fact that since Whedon left I think it has sucked. Since it was almost over, I was going to ride it out. I don't remember the last issue coming out. If it did I must have bought it, but haven't read it yet I guess.

I think it's in delay hell, apparently they're finishing it sometime this summer.

I thought Ellis set up some really interesting concepts like he always does (but much better this time compared to his previous Astonishing works). I love the fact that they're diving into Africa and some of the political/social problems of the region. This kind of self-contained book is the perfect opportunity for that. I also enjoyed the characterizations quite a bit. And the art has a real Frank Quitely feel too it, not the prettiest to look at but certainly dynamic and original...Emma's breasts alone stole every panel.

Batman25JM wrote:Did the previous Astonishing X-Men book end? I was getting it, despite the fact that since Whedon left I think it has sucked. Since it was almost over, I was going to ride it out. I don't remember the last issue coming out. If it did I must have bought it, but haven't read it yet I guess.

I think it's in delay hell, apparently they're finishing it sometime this summer.

Okay, thanks. Man, the amount of books that are delayed nowadays is getting ridiculous.

Bigtymin504 wrote:And the art has a real Frank Quitely feel too it, not the prettiest to look at but certainly dynamic and original...Emma's breasts alone stole every panel.

The artist drew her tits extremely wierd. They looked like two ottomans on her chest.

That's why they were glorious!

shining knight wrote:Hey...hey...

Don't bring frank into this there is no way the art in this mess is like Franks!

I think it's a fair comparison. Some of Quitely's characters look ugly as sin, yet they're still awesome and dynamic looking at the same time. I got that same feel from the art in this. But that's not to say this artist is in Quitely's distinguished league, just that it reminded me of him.

I don’t even know where to begin with this issue. I guess I’ll start with the cover. I have to say that I really, really don’t care for Kaare Andrews’ rendition of Marvel’s famous mutants. I never thought I would see a trashy looking Emma Frost. I mean sure she dresses a little risqué, but the shape and the face that Andrews uses make her look like a run through Fergy and Paris Hilton xenomorph. I thought she looked bad enough on the cover but Andrews amazes me and makes her look worse throughout the issue. Storm…well she has a mohawk again. I never had a problem with it but it complete brings up a question of where on earth this is in continuity and whether or not this book is even 616 cannon or not.

I didn’t know what to expect after having a sour face glancing at the cover. Last time we had a book by Ellis was Astonishing X-men #33 back in January or February. In that series we were watching new bio-sentinels being created and used and had the X-club science team traveling through time to get some DNA from Dr Nemesis’ parents. They went to recover the vial and there was a Celestial standing on top of it. I have waited for months to get more of that story and I get treated to this?

The plot of this issue is something else that makes me question whether or not it is cannon. We have a bunch of mutant babies being born in Africa. That’s right so this is either another reality or 616 after Second Coming and a trip to the Queen of Wakanda’s stylist. Or the likely scenario is that something has happened to the water or there is some sort of mysticism involved that is causing these births to happen. But this is Warren Ellis so this could be the result of triploids or mutants from the Ghost Box or some other crazy thing that he came up with during his run on Astonishing.

I have loved almost everything that Ellis has done, but the dialogue in this book just seems wrong. The tone just isn’t leaving a good taste in my mind. I will keep reading though, I jus have to see what the point is. If this is on the same schedule as the other astonishing book we should see issue #2 in time for X-mas and then this horribleness will seem like it is something brand new to complain about all over again.

1.5 out of 5 Ribs you can count on Storm (really it’s that bad…if you must see it wait for the trade and make your friend buy it and then read it.)

hrdwrkngXsoldier wrote:Last time we had a book by Ellis was Astonishing X-men #33 back in January or February. In that series we were watching new bio-sentinels being created and used and had the X-club science team traveling through time to get some DNA from Dr Nemesis’ parents. They went to recover the vial and there was a Celestial standing on top of it. I have waited for months to get more of that story and I get treated to this?

Big things to overlook by someone like you. This series will get swept under the rug once it's done.

It absolutely will, and that's just it. I've finally accepted the fact that Astonishing DOESN'T MATTER. It's elaborate fan fiction by highly paid writers. It's just barely a step above X-Men Forever, in that at least Astonishing LAUNCHES from a semi-current point and then does whatever it wants, as opposed to going back in time and then reimagining the past 20 to 30 years.

It's a fun read when you're not trying to shoe-horn it into anything else. Just like those tits would probably be fun if they weren't being shoehorned into that costume.

HAHAHAHA!!! I do NOT understand the bitches about this issue. Assuming no writer ever tries to access the things that have been done in this book as though canon, I think it's a fantastically fun take on the team. The costumes are stupid, but who cares? They're just window dressing to an otherwise ludicrous story.

I didn't really like this at all. I have liked most of what Ellis writes, even when things like Transmet and Planetary turned into "Look what I read about in New Scientist last week" lectures. I think using Wolverine as a mouth piece for an incredibly narrow and basic lecture on African politics was ridiculous.

The art didn't bug me until the panel where Emma leans in between Ororo and Scott and her face looked like one of Conan O'Brian's "If They Mated" pictures. Total crap.

Plot wise, the first couple of pages, before the hospital scene, didn't seem to make any sense. Scott explaining that he knows Africa is not a country seemed to be a jab at other writers at Marvel who have treated the continent that way in the past, which was funny.

Batman25JM wrote:Did the previous Astonishing X-Men book end? I was getting it, despite the fact that since Whedon left I think it has sucked. Since it was almost over, I was going to ride it out. I don't remember the last issue coming out. If it did I must have bought it, but haven't read it yet I guess.

What the hell is up with this? I find it pretty damn rich that Ellis's (who I normally am a massive fan of) first series of Astonishing X-Men isn't finished yet and they bring out a new one with a different artist. Does this strike anyone slightly as a sign of disrespect for the fans buying these things? Just finish the damn stories! Is that really too much to ask?

This is now 2 Marvel series by Ellis that I've bought in the last few years that remain unfinished. I'm pretty sure the first one (Newuniversal) wasn't finished because the dog ate it.

The style really turned me off, and while it may be new and interesting, but the costumes are hideous and Emma looks even MORE like a stripper. I would gladly take Frank Quietly's art over this and that is saying something.

Only a handful of current writers can create weird and out-there concepts and make them work, Ellis is one of them (Morrison and Hickman are a couple others). In this issue we get more details about what's going on with these African "mutant" babies. We also get some great characterizations of Storm and Beast, not to mention a wildly entertaining Emma Frost lol. And personally I think the art is awesome...if you realize the imagery is meant to be a bit over the top. It really works if you ask me.